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Bar associations and judges’ associations called for political differences to be set aside in order to defend Brazil’s sovereignty. On Friday, more than 250 Brazilian social organizations issued a manifesto in defense of national sovereignty in response to interference from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to sanction the country over what he claims is political persecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

“We repudiate any and all forms of intervention, intimidation or admonition aimed at subordinating our freedom as a democratic nation,” reads the manifesto, which was presented at the University of Sao Paulo’s Law School.

The chant “No to tyranny! Sovereignty is not negotiable!” echoed in unison from students, professors, and workers every time a speaker ended a key statement during their speech.

Among the organizations that signed the open letter were bar associations and judges’ associations from several states, which called for political differences to be set aside in order to defend Brazil’s sovereignty.

Celso Fernandes Campilongo, dean of the University of Sao Paulo’s Law School, said the letter marks an initial step in defending the sovereignty of the South American nation.

“Sovereignty means having the final word on what law is valid for a people and a territory,” the academic declared, adding that “it is unacceptable” for there to be “foreign interference in the functioning of Brazilian institutions.”

“Highlights from the protest at the University of Sao Paulo today! Students, professors, and the people united to shout: Trump, respect Brazil!

Although the letter does not mention Trump by name, Campilongo explained that this omission was intentional: “Everyone is absolutely clear about who this message is for.”

This public display of dissatisfaction with U.S. foreign policy comes less than a week before a 50% tariff on Brazilian products is set to take effect. The Trump administration justified the measure by citing an alleged “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, who is facing trial in the Supreme Court over an attempt to stage a coup.

The dispute has sparked a series of media clashes between Trump and President Lula da Silva, who has described the Republican leader’s threats as “unacceptable blackmail.”

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro, the leader of the Brazilian far right, is due to appear before the Supreme Court to face charges of leading a plot to overturn the 2022 election results, prevent Lula’s inauguration, and remain in power.

Tensions between Brazil and the United States further escalated after the Trump administration revoked the visas of several Brazilian Supreme Court justices.

In this context, Campilongo, a member of the São Paulo Academy of Law, said the manifesto also serves as “a defense of the Supreme Court,” which has been the target of several interventions and attacks.”

Before closing the event, attendees shouted the refrain of the Independence Anthem, the song composed in 1822 to celebrate Brazil’s emancipation from Portugal. “Either free the homeland or die for Brazil,” resounded through the hall, filled with green and yellow flags.

France had previously announced its willingness to recognize the Palestinian state. On Friday, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said his country is open to recognizing the State of Palestine, following France’s signal that it intends to do so in September.France had previously announced its willingness to recognize the Palestinian state. On Friday, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said his country is open to recognizing the State of Palestine, following France’s signal that it intends to do so in September.

Rangel was asked by reporters about the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron and said it was not new, noting this is the third time in recent months Macron has made such a statement.

Portugal “has shown openness and will remain open to recognizing a Palestinian state,” said Rangel, who emphasized that his country has taken “a shared path” with other allies, including France.

The diplomat added that Portugal will participate in the meeting set for July 28–30 in New York, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at advancing a two-state solution in the Middle East.

He said his government is following the process “very closely,” but reminded that Portugal is “a sovereign country and its policy is not defined by other states, although it has always been coordinated with its partners.”

In June, Rangel stated that Portugal had not yet made a decision on recognizing the State of Palestine, saying the issue is something his government is “constantly” evaluating and prefers to approach in a way that is “useful.”

On Thursday, Macron said France would recognize the Palestinian state in September, according to a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas—a move that has sparked outrage from Israel.

“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron announced, adding that he will formalize the recognition at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

PM Mishustin ordered the creation of a government commission to oversee the response and compensation process. On Thursday, authorities in Russia’s Amur Oblast and Khabarovsk Territory declared three days of mourning following the crash of an An-24 passenger aircraft that claimed the lives of all people on board.

“With deep sorrow, I must announce that there are no survivors in the An-24 plane crash in Tynda, according to preliminary data. A three-day mourning period has been declared in the Amur Oblast. On July 25, 26 and 27, flags will be flown at half-mast across all territories of the region,” said Governor Vasily Orlov on his Telegram channel.

The Khabarovsk regional government has also announced mourning, as some of the victims were residents of the area. Governor Dmitry Demeshin said that each victim’s family would receive US$12,500 in compensation, along with coverage of travel expenses to the crash site.

All necessary payments should be made to relatives of all deceased passengers and crew members, said Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed his condolences.

The aircraft, operated by Angara Airlines, disappeared from radar on Thursday morning when approaching Tynda airport. Its wreckage was later found on a mountainside approximately 15 km from the city.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has ordered the creation of a government commission, headed by Nikitin, to oversee the response and compensation process. A criminal case has been opened to investigate the crash.

The Transport Ministry said 42 passengers and six crew members were on the crashed plane, including five children. The Chinese Consulate General in Khabarovsk confirmed that one Chinese citizen was on board.

Since the death of President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has gone through one of the most complex periods in its recent history. The combination of an economic crisis and unprecedented external pressures has shaped the country’s trajectory.

In 2014, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 113-278 for the “Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society in Venezuela,” paving the way for Washington, starting with the Barack Obama administration, to adopt a series of unilateral coercive measures against the South American nation.

These sanctions focused on freezing Venezuelan assets, restricting the movements of officials, and directly targeting the oil industry, the main engine of Venezuela’s economy, without considering the social and humanitarian impact such measures would have on the entire population.

U.S. Coercive Measures and Their Impact on the National Economy In March 2015, Executive Order 13692, signed by Obama, declared Venezuela an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. security. This act led to the freezing of assets and visa bans for officials, deepening the economic and social crisis already facing the country.

Under the Trump administration, sanctions became even harsher. In 2017, Executive Order 13808 was issued, prohibiting transactions with state oil company PDVSA, banning the purchase of Venezuelan bonds, and imposing suffocating pressure on the country’s foreign currency flow.

Despite government efforts to diversify the economy, Venezuela remains highly dependent on the oil sector, making the industry the primary target of U.S. policies.

The sanctions have also affected PDVSA officials and exposed the alliance between local right-wing factions and the U.S.-backed agenda to remove the government.

However, despite increasing pressure on all fronts, Chevron managed to remain active in Venezuelan territory through successive licenses and exemptions, preserving a channel for crude exports and foreign currency generation.

Chevron in Venezuela: History, Presence, and Contributions

Chevron, present in Venezuela since 1923, has played a key role in oil extraction in the Orinoco Belt, one of the world’s largest reserves. Through joint ventures with PDVSA, such as Petropiar and Petroboscán, Chevron produced over 200,000 barrels per day before sanctions tightened.

Between 2019 and 2022, as restrictions increased under the Trump administration, Chevron was the only U.S. firm authorized, albeit in a limited capacity, to operate in the country.

Even under adverse conditions, the company maintained production in key fields and contributed to the transfer of technical and scientific knowledge essential for extracting extra-heavy crude.

Chevron’s role has been crucial in sustaining production and facilitating exports, primarily to the United States.

With the issuance of General License No. 41 in 2022, Venezuela regained some export capacity, increasing oil production to between 50,000 and 150,000 barrels per day during 2022 and 2023.

The profits from these operations were partly used to repay PDVSA’s debts to Chevron and did not translate into direct benefits for Venezuela’s treasury due to U.S. restrictions.

Chevron Licenses as a Geopolitical Tool

The granting, suspension, and renewal of Chevron’s licenses have been instruments of political and economic pressure used as bargaining chips by the U.S. administration.

These licenses have been issued, and revoked, based on U.S. interests, leveraging the oil relationship to force internal negotiations between the Venezuelan government and opposition sectors.

At the same time, the global context, marked by disruptions in the oil market and the war in Ukraine, led the U.S. to reconsider the strategic importance of accessing Venezuelan crude.

Washington maintained the condition that financial flows must not directly benefit Nicolás Maduro’s government, restricting Chevron to controlled operations and prohibiting any financial ties with sanctioned companies like Rosneft.

Evolution of Chevron’s Licenses

• Temporary License (2019): Allowed Chevron to carry out minimal maintenance activities in its joint projects with PDVSA. It was renewable quarterly and prohibited new investments or increased production.

• General License No. 41 (2022): Issued after negotiations in Mexico, it permitted the reactivation of crude production and exports, though under strict conditions that revenues be used to pay PDVSA’s debts to Chevron. Initially valid for six months, it was renewed based on domestic political developments.

• Limited License (2024): Following the alleged breach of the Barbados agreements by the Venezuelan government, the U.S. revoked the general license. However, Chevron maintained restricted operations and, as of October 2024, exported around 280,000 barrels per day to the U.S.

Chevron Today: Fluctuations and Prospects

The shifting U.S. license policy has deeply impacted Venezuela’s oil production. By early 2025, despite limitations, Chevron-PDVSA joint ventures were producing around 242,000 barrels per day, representing 27% of Venezuela’s total oil output.

In April 2025, the non-renewal of License No. 41 led Chevron to announce the suspension of its operations, significantly affecting foreign currency earnings and the Venezuelan energy sector’s production flow. This scenario sparked concern and tensions in both public and private sectors.

A Pragmatic Shift: The Resumption of Operations

Recently, amid multilateral negotiations, President Nicolás Maduro announced the granting of a new license to Chevron, signaling a shift in U.S. strategy under the Trump administration.

Although the White House has not officially confirmed this move, international press reports indicate that the new license aims to resume production and increase Venezuelan oil exports to the U.S. market while maintaining strict limitations on fund flows to the Venezuelan government.

Maduro, for his part, claims that the oil sector has grown by 12% in recent months despite strict coercive measures.

The government guarantees the availability of equipment and personnel to reactivate oil fields and has emphasized its commitment to international agreements.

According to U.S. administration sources, part of the exported crude transactions will be compensated in kind, meaning oil as direct payment, to ensure revenues do not immediately finance the Venezuelan government.

This latest shift reflects a pragmatic U.S. foreign policy approach: balancing political pressure on Venezuela with energy supply needs and global market stability. The granting of Chevron’s licenses is not solely driven by economic interests but is part of a complex geopolitical strategy aimed at controlling dynamics in Latin America and maintaining influence over global oil politics.

Licenses and Realignments in Oil Geopolitics

Chevron’s trajectory in Venezuela illustrates how U.S. licensing policy has been used as a tool for pressure and negotiation amid a prolonged economic and geopolitical crisis.

Although sanctions have severely complicated national development and the population’s well-being, Chevron’s presence has allowed for minimal export and foreign currency flows.

The recent granting of a new license, under strict parameters and with clear geopolitical maneuvering, highlights the pragmatic approach adopted by the U.S. administration: a policy that not only seeks to pressure Venezuela but also ensures U.S. energy security and eases global market pressures, without abandoning its political objectives.